U.S. stocks opened modestly higher on Monday as merger activity and solid earnings, including Exxon Mobil , overshadowed concerns about unrest in Egypt spreading in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 15.22 points, or 0.13 percent, at 11,838.92. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 2.02 points, or 0.16 percent, at 1,278.36. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 6.50 points, or 0.24 percent, at 2,693.39.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

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